The Sex Specific Function of CLS-2 During Male Sperm Meiosis in Caenorhabditis elegans
Author: Allen Ramsey
Faculty Supervisor: Diana Chu
Department: Biology
Investigating the mechanisms of chromosome segregation during sperm meiosis will help us understand a significant cause of infertility. We are investigating the role of the CLASP protein in sperm meiosis due to its function in stabilizing chromosomes, using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. CLS-2, the C. elegans CLASP gene, has a unique localization during sperm meiosis, which persists on the chromosomes throughout meiosis, in contrast to its localization during oocyte meiosis and mitosis. The reason for this localization is unknown. We hypothesize that CLS-2 stabilizes microtubules on the lagging X, acting as a braking system during anaphase I in male sperm meiosis. To investigate CLS-2's sperm-specific function, we use confocal microscopy and FIJI imaging software to track the segregation dynamics. Further, we utilize a protein degradation pathway to elucidate the function of CLS-2 during sperm meiosis by depleting CLS-2. We expect a decrease in the time spent in anaphase I in our depleted models and a lower microtubule density in the midzone, showing a strong correlation for CLS-2's involvement in stabilizing and regulating segregation dynamics. Changes in chromosome segregation dynamics may increase the errant segregation of chromosomes, leading to aneuploid sperm, which is a significant cause of male infertility.